Consumer to Contributor
Becoming More: Being the Church we're Called to be • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Becoming More: Being the Church we’re Called to be.
Moving from Consumer to Contributor.
American culture programs us at an early age to become consumers.
I want to have a brutally honest conversation about a trend that's been crippling the potential of every church I know for years: It’s called “Consumer Christianity”.
This isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a deeply ingrained mindset that treats faith as a commodity. We evaluate churches, worship services, and programs the same way we review a new restaurant on Yelp—based on personal preference and perceived value. At its heart, it’s a self-centered faith, constantly asking, "How does this benefit me?"
The counter-cultural call of Jesus is to move from being a consumer to a contributor. He invites us to invest our lives in something bigger than ourselves—His Kingdom's work and mission.
The challenge for every church is to create a culture that values contribution over consumption.
When we first come to faith “baby Christian” we are primarily consuming.
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
I think so many Christians don’t fully grow up in their faith because they are mostly consuming and not contributing.
When you're a baby somebody feeds you. When you're an adult you feed yourself and you feed somebody else.
By serving, giving, helping, praying, caring, participating.
If you are not doing that “Christian Consumerism” is stunting your growth.
James and John, two of Jesus’ closest guys. They come to Jesus with a consumer request.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
They wanted the corner office, the VIP seats. They were looking for a promotion, not a purpose to serve.
Jesus's response is a complete nuclear bomb on their consumer mindset.
43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus, our ultimate model, defined his mission by what he gave, not what he received. His life was an offering, and he calls us to follow in his footsteps.
The entire structure of the Kingdom is built on serving and giving.
A consumer asks, “What is this church doing for me?”
A contributor, filled with the Holy Spirit, asks, 'What can I do through the power of Christ for the good of His church and the glory of His name?
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Your own interest: My needs and my wants.
John F. Kennedy's iconic line from his 1961 Inaugural Address,
"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country," - John F. Kennedy (Slide)
Ask not what your church can do for you—ask what you can do for your church and His Kingdom.
A contributor gets it. They've read the Bible. They understand they are not a customer of the church; they are the church. The mission flows through them, not just to them.
(My complaint to Pastor Mark)
A contributor doesn't just show up to be fed; they show up to help set the table.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Notice the cause and effect: they were a community of radical contributors, and as a result, God blessed them with growth. People were saved!
35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
This verse perfectly encapsulates the joy and divine reward found in a life of contribution.
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
A consumer sits, and watches the game from the sidelines.
A contributor uses their God given gifts and talents and gets in the game.
Don’t wait to be asked but actively looks for opportunities to use your gifts.
Recent hope for the church and God’s Kingdom. Christian thought leader Carey Nieuwhof shared some encouraging news.
“Consumer Christianity is dying and selfless discipleship is on the rise”.
“Church will become more about what we give, then what we get”.
At CoTH we trying to build a culture of loving, serving and reaching people for Jesus.
If you're visiting and trying to figure out if CoTH should be your church home? I get it, take your time and figure it out.
But truly if you are one of those Christians that does not land in any church because it does not fit your needs.
If you've been to 27 churches and not one of them is right, just remember this. You're the only constant variable, it's probably you.
I'm not at CoTH because everything's perfect or right, but because I'm needed and I'm trying to help make a difference for God’s Kingdom.
People who love Jesus and love this church, they know we're not perfect and they're wanting to help be apart of the Kingdom building.
If you're here we'd love to have your help serving in Jesus mission. If you don't want to serve and help and you're a Christian.
You must search your own heart and find a place where you can serve and honestly if that's us great if that's another church great.
